Few people realize that popular russet potatoes are picked once a year, then go into storage and are doled out from there until the next harvest. All of this year’s new-crop russets will be out of the ground by the end of October.

New-crop spuds may appear sweaty or dark. There’s nothing wrong with them. They just don’t look the same as russets that have spent months in long-term storage.

New-crop russets also have higher moisture content, and while they make great mashed and baked potatoes, frying can be problematic. So wait a few months for that.

White Rock Local Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. On the first and third Saturday of the month, the market sets up at Lakeside Baptist Church, 9150 Garland Road at Lunar, Dallas. The second and fourth Saturday, it’s at the original site, Green Spot Market & Fuels, 702 N. Buckner Blvd. at Northcliff, Dallas; whiterocklocalmarket.org.

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